Harborcreek man charged with deliberately setting fire in Erie

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An outdoor fire that destroyed two old couches and burned some grass on Erie's east side Thursday afternoon was set deliberately by a Harborcreek Township man who said he wanted to see Erie firefighters in action, investigators said.

Andrew J. Armel, 24, is accused of intentionally setting fire to the couches near an apartment complex in the 200 block of Pennsylvania Avenue. The fire destroyed the couches, which were in some brush, and extended to surrounding grass before firefighters doused the flames, Erie Fire Inspector John Widomski said Friday.

Firefighters were dispatched to East Second Street and Pennsylvania Avenue at 3:39 p.m. Thursday and arrived at the scene 5 minutes later, according to Erie County dispatch. The couches were about 75 feet behind the apartment complex, police said.

Firefighters doused the fire and cleared the scene at 4:22 p.m.

Erie police said Armel was videotaping himself with his cell phone while he started the fire and wanted to see how quickly Erie firefighters would respond, according to the criminal complaint filed in the case.

He told one officer that he committed the act to observe the Erie Fire Department putting out the fire and to judge their effectiveness, according to the complaint.

No one was injured.

Armel, of the 1000 block of Villa Sites Road, was arraigned Thursday night before Erie 1st Ward District Judge Sue Mack on charges of arson endangering property, dangerous burning and recklessly endangering another person. He was placed in the Erie County Prison on $25,000 bond.

TIM HAHN can be reached at 870-1731 or by e-mail. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNhahn.

Online Extras

MORE ON CRIME: To see more coverage of crime in the Erie area, including Erie County’s Most Wanted and a map of incidents in Erie and Millcreek Township, click here.